WWE Backlash, which goes down tonight on pay-per-view, is the start of a new
era in the Fed. Starting tonight Smackdown, Raw and ECW will no longer have
their own special events. Instead, all three brands team up to present a supercard
every month.

As an indicator of this new philosphy, all three World belts are up for grabs
tonight. Three other matches highlight the card as well. For a closer look,
let's check in with the SLAM! crew and see what they have to say.

I'd actually prefer a rematch between HBK and Cena after the fantastic match
they had on RAW this past week. Edge and Orton just seem thrown in after-the-fact,
and it seems they'll only be in there as a way of setting up their feud. Look
for them to eliminate each other from contention and Cena getting the win over
Shawn to retain.

Despite all the attempts to make Lashley a superstar, I just can't find myself
to care. He's just too bland and too green for me to invest anything in him
or in his matches. Lashley will overcome the odds and win - hopefully very quickly.

I doubt that Undertaker will be able to carry Batista to another solid performance
like he did at Mania. But if they use the gimmick well, and it ends up being
a hardcore war filled with weapons and blood, it may be distracting enough that
it doesn't matter. Taker retains.

The intrigue for insiders is how Orton is used, if he's used at all. The cynic
in me says it's all a swerve and that Orton goes over here. The brain in me
says that Cena, somehow, survives with his belt. If he loses, it should be one-on-one.

Four-way matches always seem so busy in the ring as guys are confined and can't
put on a decent show. Cena can't drop the title so soon after WrestleMania
can he? Edge is still hurt and Orton can't behave himself. The only logical
ending to this match is Cena pinning Orton (doing the job) with HBK having a
fit and getting a rematch at the next PPV.

Like I said in my ECW report two weeks ago, if McMahon wins the belt here,
I will once and for all say something nice about VKM. I don't see that
happening, so I hope to God that Lashley retains and continues his roll. At
least lately, Lashley has developed a mean streak, but still not as extreme
as ECW would lead you to believe.

This will either be a gong show or a solid match. Both guys should juice and
both should put it all on the line. I think this may go 20-25 minutes, but we'll
see. I like the Dead Man retaining the gold here and perhaps dropping it to
Mr. Kennedy...Kennedy at SummerSlam.

Michaels' defeat of Cena in that spectacular match in London, England was a
demonstration to fans that "The Heartbreak Kid" is capable of pinning
the champ, something that Edge had also proved throughout 2006. That only leaves
Orton, this bout's fall guy, primarily because of his recent behavioural indiscretions.
Cena to pin Orton.

Given such a close call by Umaga at WrestleMania, one would think that 3-1
odds in favour of the McMahon team would be too much for even Lashley. However,
I believe he will scrape another win in this one, with Shane McMahon the one
to go down.

It is interesting that this bout is a Last Man Standing match only two bouts
into the Undertaker vs Batista feud. Even more interesting to note will be how
Batista performs after one of his best ever matches at WrestleMania. The Undertaker
character continues to be immensely strong on television, but I can see a short
changing of the guard here, before Undertaker regains the title in a rubber
match.

I get a sneaking suspicion that the whole "Randy Orton trashes the hotel
again" is a ruse. After all, it's the first time that I can remember that
wwe.com has reported on "disciplinary action", despite the wellness
suspensions. I certainly wouldn't put it past WWE to swerve everyone via the
'net. So as bizarre as it sounds, I'm putting my money on Orton to take the
title.

Two titles changing hands on one show? You bet. While fans will get a sick
feeling over the threat ofVinnie Mac being the ECW champ, I have little doubt
that the Fed has thought this out in advance. Instead, Shane McMahon, who in
the ring is more extreme than Lashley could ever dream of being, will be the
one wearing the strap at the end of the night.

Whoever wins here will pretty much go on to face Ken Kennedy. That's inevitable.
What we don't know is how WWE's book will take this one. The nature of the LMS
match would almost make you think that Kennedy will take his opportunity to
get the belt here and now, and that's what should happen tonight. The reality
is neither Batista nor 'Taker need the belt now, and a feud between them puts
the belt in a secondary spot. So let Undertaker retain, just for fun, but lose
to Mr. Kennedy...Kennedy in the end.